While the Maldives is a destination in its own right, the islands and beaches closer to mainland Africa combine brilliantly with a safari to make one of the world's best combination holidays. The beaches of Zanzibar provide the lion's share of the accommodation options but, if you want to do it in style, these are the lodges to go for...

Unlike its southerly competitors, East Africa can offer both a safari holiday and a beach holiday in one easy trip. The famous Indian Ocean coastline of Tanzania is just a couple of hours (and sometimes even less!) from several world-class game viewing areas.

January and February are notorious for being the most depressing months of the calendar. In order to escape your winter blues, why not lust over a holiday in an exotic location? These luxurious overwater bungalow resorts offer privacy, luxury and unbeatable views.

How would you feel about taking a holiday in West Africa right now? Given the news coverage of the Ebola outbreak over the past few months, most people would say "No thanks". But having just returned from The Gambia with my wife and daughter, I'd heartily recommend it.

"It is always advisable to carry a tablet of 'Antioyl' soap, if it is necessary to use bare hands for a repair, you will nearly always find some grease on your hands and this is impossible to remove with ordinary soap."

If you have school-age kids there are some good arguments for booking your holidays well in advance. For a start, it's rare to find late deals during the school holidays - and who wants the stress of waiting until the last minute and hoping that something suitable and affordable shows up?

I've been travelling for almost two months and have spent the last week exploring the beautiful country of Guatemala in Central America. I didn't know what to expect. I'd heard it was a dangerous country, and I would need to have my wits about me to stay safe. It's also a poor country.

No stay in Goa would be complete without a trip to Club Cubana, situated between Baga and Anjuna in the Arpora Hill. Dubbed the 'night club in the sky', the climb to the top is well worth it as its picturesque views are equalled by its hedonistic atmosphere.

I'm a big advocate for continuing to make an effort in your relationship, after you've made it "official", and I love finding new, fun, and most importantly budget-friendly date-night ideas. Here are my top five money-saving tips for dating on a budget.

How to get a bikini-perfect body in just three weeks is one of the main headlines adorning the covers of women's magazines at this time of the year. Alongside is a picture of a young woman with the perfect body frolicking on a beach. The article will then go into all the daily exercises you need to do, foods you need ‎to avoid and alongside display incy-wincy bikinis that only Gisele Bundchen could wear...

Boasting some of the Med's most spectacular coastline, gloriously unspoilt beaches and a rich history, Ibiza's reputation as a clubber's paradise hides just how much there is to do. Yes, there's a lot more to the White Isle than superclubs and dancing till dawn.

If you lost hours as a child in a world of endless summers, picnics, adventures and lashings of ginger beer, you were probably like me, a fan of Enid Blyton. Today I dream of similar innocent adventures for my own child.

What I don't understand is this recent need to judge people on the way they travel; on the way they relax; on the way they like to experience the world. I'm sure many people would love to go trekking for three weeks through the jungles of Borneo (and many wouldn't), but the reality is that these days people just don't have the time.

Since the civil war ended in 2009, Sri Lanka has become a top Asian holiday spot. Most flock to the south and western beaches as they are easier to access from the capital's Bandaranaike International Airport, but the east and north have their own tales to entice you.

Soft white sand, crystal-clear water, perfect weather... it's not hard to see why every year millions of visitors flock to the islands of the Caribbean. It ticks all the boxes of a perfect tropical holiday. Here is the scoop on just some of the beautiful destinations of which dreams and desktop wallpapers are made.

Wherever you look Thailand is bathed in stunning panoramic views. Wherever you go there are palm trees, sand and beautiful clear blue waters. Here is a list of Thailand's best sun-drenched islands that you can hop on and off as you please.